CSA Acting CEO Thabang Moroe
It is a sign of times in our globalised existence that the worth of Pakistan as a Test side was set in stone recently not by what happened in the UAE while losing 0-2 to Sri Lanka, but by something that didn’t happen in South Africa. Interesting times we are living in, which, by the way, doesn’t have anything to do with the Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times!
The decline in our cricketing fortunes has been obvious to anyone following the game with just enough intelligence to outsmart passion that is generally wrapped in zeal and ribboned with patriotism. But even the diehard naysayer will have the occasion to sit up and take notice of the words uttered by Thabang Moroe, the acting chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA).
He was addressing media to announce the postponement of the T20 Global League, which had been pencilled in for later this year, owing to lack of incoming revenue streams to sustain the event. The development meant South Africa now has no international activity lined up till the latter half of December. It was in this context that Moroe talked of efforts to have some contingency plan in place to avoid losing out on a window of opportunity in its cricket season.
The word from Cricket South Africa is that an unsponsored domestic tournament is more viable than inviting Pakistan for a Test tour
When asked if CSA would be seeking an international opponent for the purpose, Moroe remarked that the only teams available were Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe, and then went on to confirm that neither of the three was a viable option. CSA does not, in his words, want to put content in and waste money and that all the three teams cost more than they make for CSA.
The board — again, in his words — would not enter into an endeavour which will cost it money. Till last reports came in, CSA was seriously considering moving up the national T20 competition from March-April to fill the slot even though the tournament is unsponsored at present. If you, for some inexplicable reason, are struggling to get the drift, here it is: a domestic unsponsored tournament for CSA is a more viable option than to host Pakistan.
Now let’s extrapolate. The CSA chief was not targeting any country. He was simply explaining to international media the options the board had. In effect, there can be no accusations of bias, to start with. And the main reason why a visiting Pakistan is not viable is because of low rates at which television rights are sold and the lack of spectator interest. Again, no bias there. The man was simply stating a fact conveyed to him by television companies and the past record of ticket sales.
And, why, you think, are television companies not interested and why, you think, the spectators prefer to stay away? It is simply because the lack of competition Pakistan offers at the Test level. If there is no fight on offer, it is not much of a sight to behold. It is the easiest way of keeping spectators away which, in turn, means diminished interest on the part of broadcasting partners. And this, as we have just seen, keeps cricketing boards from taking you as a worthy opponent.